Plattsburgh, NY; December 20, 2022. With increasing consumer interest in local foods, growers in northern climates want to learn how to extend their sales opportunities through high tunnel production of greens in the winter season. Winter greens marketing tips developed from high tunnel research trials funded by the farmer-driven Northern New York Agricultural Development Program (NNYADP) will be provided in a January 9, 2023 High Tunnel Winter Greens webinar. Speakers for the 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. webinar will also address pest and disease management for winter greens production. Pre-registration is required; for details and cost, see https://enych.cce.cornell.edu/events.php, or call 518-569-3073. The webinar is organized by the Eastern New York Commercial Horticulture Program; DEC credits are available.
As part of the January 9 webinar, Lindsey Pashow, a regional agricultural business specialist with Cornell Cooperative Extension (CCE) Harvest New York, will present findings from her NNYADP-funded project exploring winter greens production and marketing potential for northern New York growers. Her discussion will include packaging, pricing, and marketing of winter greens.
Grower Lissa Goldstein of Wild Work Farm, located in Keene Valley in northern New York, will share her experiences with managing food safety, washing, and efficiently packing winter greens.
Webinar organizer and CCE Horticultural Specialist Elisabeth Hodgdon, Ph.D., will cover a broad range of food safety considerations for leaf greens growers.
Additional speakers include Carol Glenister, with IPM Labs, presenting information on the biological control of aphids on winter greens in high tunnels, and Cornell Professor Margaret McGrath, Ph.D., with the Long Island Horticultural Research and Extension Center, sharing knowledge on managing disease in high tunnel-grown winter greens.
Collaborators with the NNYADP-funded winter greens production and marketing project include northern New York-based growers currently growing winter greens; Cornell Vegetable Specialist Judson Reid; and Willsboro Research Farm Manager Michael Davis, Ph.D. A full project results report and related podcasts developed by Hodgdon, Reid, and Pashow will be available in 2023 and posted at www.nnyagdev.org.
Funding for the Northern New York Agricultural Development Program is supported by the New York State Legislature and administered by the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets.